Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-08
INTERSTATE COMMERCE. BILL.
Resolutions adopted by tho Cincinnati
Chamber OF Commerce on the Reagan
CVluom Bill

Chamber OF Commerce on the Reagan
CuIlom Bill
Correspondence of the Gazette.
CINCINNATI, OHIO, Jan. 3.-The Gin
cinnati chamber Of commerce adopted to-
day the following resolutions in reference
to the action of congress on the Reagan
Cullom interstate commerce bill. The
resolutions were sent to the senators and
representatives from Ohio in congress:
The transportation committee, to whom
was referred the question of The proper
action Of this chamber on the interstate
commerce bill. recently reported by a con-
ference committee TO congress, find it very
embarrassing to make report and advise
action after such brief notice. 1t is stated
that the supporters of the bill will en-
deavor to call it up tor action tomorrow.
The business men Of the country have
hardly seen the bill as reported by the
committee, and it is not likely that
any large number have so thoroughly d.
gested it as to be able to form definite
opinion IS to the bearings that all it's pro
visions will have. 1t is surprising that
there should be an attempt on the part of
congress to pass such measure, lnvClv-
ing such radical and Important changes,
without first consulting the leading com
mercial organizations of he country.
Referred to your committee on Thurs
day,i has beenimpossible to make any full
examination of the law, or TO consult
with any large number OF men represent
ing interests which might be impaired or
benefited by it. presentstives from
the different railroad companies center
hnr inv cd ~ he
mittee, and they gave their views fully
and clearly, but all parties interested
should be heard. One feature of the bill
is, we find, universally condemned-sec-
ton known as the short and long
haul clause. Ii is the sense of your
committee that this clause should be
eliminated from the bill, because of the
disastrous effect it would have upon the
business interests of the country, and es
pecially upon all interior points. Every
city in Ohio, aside from the lake ports,
would be greatly injured by the adoption
CT such measure. The time has been
too brief to consider carefully the other
provisions of the bill, and, IN our opn-
ion, it should be referred Jack to the
conference committee to hear from the
commercial bodies of the country. We,
therefore, advise the adoption of the fol-
lowing resolutions, which should be tele-
graphed tonight to the senators from
Ohio and the Representatives from this
city:
"Whereas, the passage OF S. B. No.
1882, known as the Interstate commerce
bill, will be productive of incalculable
injury to Cincinnati and every interior
point in the West, by the provisions of
section 4, known as the short and long
haul clause;
"Resolved, that this provision should
be entirely stricken from the bill; and
"Whereas, the bill as now offered has
only recently been made public, and its
provisions are imperfectly understood,
and both the intention Of the bill and its
probable operation doubtful;
"Resolved, that in the opinion of this
body the bill should be referred back to
the conference committee, and ample
time given for committees for this and
other boz les to appear before the commit
tee and express their views.
Resolved, that we earnestly protest
against any action so inimical to our in
terests being taken until such au oppor-
tunity is afforded"
We also recommend the following reso-
luton for passage:
"Resolved, that in case action on the
bill is postponed as requested above, the
president Of the chamber be directed to
sesd special committee to Washington
to appear before the conference commit
tee at such time ss they may appoint 3
meeting ,,